
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
Sweetfern, or Comptonia peregrina, is a small aromatic perennial known for the elaborate patterns of its deep green, textured fronds. Every spring, Sweetfern sends out an army of sweet-smelling fiddleheads, which unfurl from their snug coils of delicate olive green foliage. The flowers are brown to burgundy catkins that appear before the leaves unfold. A small nut is enfolded within. With an impressive spread of 4 to 8 feet, the Sweetfern is between 2 and 4 feet tall.
Native to the eastern North America, the low-growing Sweetfern has a mounding, upright habit that is excellent for groundcover. They are low-maintenance, vigorous growers that are drought tolerant and tenacious. They colonize quickly by forming spores on the surface of the fronds. It is a host plant for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly, as well as a wide variety of moths. It is deer and critter resistant.
Sweetfern Care
Plant your Sweetfern in full to partial sunlight. It uses average water. Sweetfern prefers moist, sandy soil with good drainage, but once established, it can survive in dry, sandy conditions. To keep the soil moist and cool, add a generous layer of mulch to your Sweetfern. Additionally, each year, you can apply well-rotted manure or compost to your ferns. However, concentrated fertilizer should not be applied, as it can burn the surface roots of your plants. If your Sweetfern is potted, use a controlled-release fertilizer option.
To prune your Sweetfern, cut off any misshapen or broken fronds. This can be done at any time of year. If you live in a colder area, leave the spent foliage attached to the plant throughout the winter to protect its crown, and instead, remove them when spring bulbs emerge.
Sweetfern Spacing
The Sweetfern is an excellent option for providing a hardy groundcover. They are best planted en masse and can thrive in moist and shady areas. You should space your Sweetfern at least 3 feet apart from center to center to give them plenty of room to grow.
Sweetfern Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 - 8 |
Plant Type: Bushes |
Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 2 - 4 Feet |
Mature Spread: 4 - 8 Feet |
Spacing: 4 - 8 Feet |
Habit: Spreading, Trailing, Upright |
Flower Color(s): Yellow |
Flower Description: |
Bloom Period: |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: |
Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: Drought |
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Container Role: |
Uses: Groundcovers, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
Brand: |
Common Name: Sweetfern |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: COMPTONIA PEREGRINA |
- SKU:
- 1002748-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!